A new French attempt to invade Britain was thwarted by the defeat of their escort fleet in the extraordinary Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759, fought in dangerous conditions.
In 1762 the resumption of hostilities with Spain led to the British capture of Manila and of Havana, along with a Spanish fleet sheltering there.
The French Navy, despite France being a republic since 1870, is often nicknamed "La Royale" (literally: The Royal). ===Of ships=== Royal Navy ships in commission are prefixed since 1789 with Her Majesty's Ship (His Majesty's Ship), abbreviated to "HMS"; for example, .
The French Revolutionary Wars (1793–1801) and Napoleonic Wars (1803–1814 & 1815) saw the Royal Navy reach a peak of efficiency, dominating the navies of all Britain's adversaries, which spent most of the war blockaded in port.
Under Admiral Nelson, the navy defeated the combined Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar (1805). Between 1815 and 1914, the Navy saw little serious action, owing to the absence of any opponent strong enough to challenge its dominance.
The French Navy, despite France being a republic since 1870, is often nicknamed "La Royale" (literally: The Royal). ===Of ships=== Royal Navy ships in commission are prefixed since 1789 with Her Majesty's Ship (His Majesty's Ship), abbreviated to "HMS"; for example, .
In 1889, Parliament passed the Naval Defence Act, which formally adopted the 'two-power standard', which stipulated that the Royal Navy should maintain a number of battleships at least equal to the combined strength of the next two largest navies.
Founded in 1901, the service made history in 1982 when, during the Falklands War, became the first nuclear-powered submarine to sink a surface ship, .
The launch of in 1906 rendered all existing battleships obsolete. ===World Wars=== During the First World War, the Royal Navy's strength was mostly deployed at home in the Grand Fleet, confronting the German High Seas Fleet across the North Sea.
was the latest Astute-class boat to be commissioned. ===Fleet Air Arm=== The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft, it can trace its roots back to 1912 and the formation of the Royal Flying Corps.
Under Admiral Nelson, the navy defeated the combined Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar (1805). Between 1815 and 1914, the Navy saw little serious action, owing to the absence of any opponent strong enough to challenge its dominance.
Several inconclusive clashes took place between them, chiefly the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Women began to join the Royal Navy in 1917 with the formation of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), which was disbanded after the end of the First World War in 1919.
Women began to join the Royal Navy in 1917 with the formation of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), which was disbanded after the end of the First World War in 1919.
In 1932, the Invergordon Mutiny took place over a proposed 25% pay cut, which was eventually reduced to 10%.
International tensions increased in the mid-1930s and the re-armament of the Royal Navy was well under way by 1938.
It was revived in 1939, and the WRNS continued until disbandment in 1993, as a result of the decision to fully integrate women into the structures of the Royal Navy.
Over 3,000 people were lost when the converted troopship Lancastria was sunk in June 1940, the greatest maritime disaster in Britain's history.
It was intended as a propaganda film and was released in 1942.
A traditional convoy system was instituted from the start of the war, but German submarine tactics, based on group attacks by "wolf-packs", were much more effective than in the previous war, and the threat remained serious for well over three years. ===Since 1945=== After the Second World War, the decline of the British Empire and the economic hardships in Britain forced the reduction in the size and capability of the Royal Navy.
The position had been held by Queen Elizabeth II from 1964 to 2011; the Sovereign is the Commander-in-chief of the British Armed Forces.
Once complete, it will be the UK's first permanent military base located East of Suez since it withdrew from the region in 1971.
At the beginning of the 1980s, the Royal Navy was a force focused on blue-water anti-submarine warfare.
The Armilla Patrol, which started in 1980, is the navy's primary commitment to the Gulf region.
In 1981, Defence Secretary John Nott had advocated and initiated a series of cutbacks to the Navy.
Founded in 1901, the service made history in 1982 when, during the Falklands War, became the first nuclear-powered submarine to sink a surface ship, .
It was revived in 1939, and the WRNS continued until disbandment in 1993, as a result of the decision to fully integrate women into the structures of the Royal Navy.
They are equipped with the PAAMS (also known as Sea Viper) integrated anti-aircraft warfare system which incorporates the sophisticated SAMPSON and S1850M long range radars and the Aster 15 and 30 missiles. 16 Type 23 frigates were delivered to the Royal Navy, with the final vessel, , commissioned in June 2002.
The other survey vessels of the Royal Navy are the two multi-role ships of the , which came into service in 2002 and 2003.
The other survey vessels of the Royal Navy are the two multi-role ships of the , which came into service in 2002 and 2003.
However, the 2004 Delivering Security in a Changing World review announced that three frigates would be paid off as part of a cost-cutting exercise, and these were subsequently sold to the Chilean Navy.
The first review on record was held in 1400, and the most recent review was held on 28 June 2005 to mark the bi-centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar; 167 ships from many different nations attended with the Royal Navy supplying 67. ==="Jackspeak"=== There are several less formal traditions including service nicknames and Naval slang, known as "Jackspeak".
These are known as the landing ships, of which four were introduced in 2006–2007, but one was sold to the Royal Australian Navy in 2011.
In November 2006, the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band described the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels as "a major uplift in the Royal Navy's war fighting capability". ===Submarine Service=== The Submarine Service is the submarine based element of the Royal Navy.
A Naval Base Review was undertaken in 2006 and early 2007, the outcome being announced by Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne, confirming that all would remain however some reductions in manpower were anticipated. The academy where initial training for future Royal Navy officers takes place is Britannia Royal Naval College, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon.
A Naval Base Review was undertaken in 2006 and early 2007, the outcome being announced by Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne, confirming that all would remain however some reductions in manpower were anticipated. The academy where initial training for future Royal Navy officers takes place is Britannia Royal Naval College, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon.
The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review announced that the remaining 13 Type 23 frigates would eventually be replaced by the Type 26 Frigate.
There is always a Falkland Islands patrol vessel on deployment, currently . The Royal Navy operates a Response Force Task Group (a product of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review), which is poised to respond globally to short-notice tasking across a range of defence activities, such as non-combatant evacuation operations, disaster relief, humanitarian aid or amphibious operations.
These are known as the landing ships, of which four were introduced in 2006–2007, but one was sold to the Royal Australian Navy in 2011.
In 2011, the first deployment of the task group occurred under the name 'COUGAR 11' which saw them transit through the Mediterranean where they took part in multinational amphibious exercises before moving further east through the Suez Canal for further exercises in the Indian Ocean. In the Persian Gulf, the RN sustains commitments in support of both national and coalition efforts to stabilise the region.
Operation Atalanta, the European Union's anti-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean, is permanently commanded by a senior Royal Navy or Royal Marines officer at Northwood Headquarters and the navy contributes ships to the operation. From 2015, the Royal Navy also re-formed its UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) after it was disbanded in 2011 due to the retirement of HMS Ark Royal and Harrier GR9s.
The UKCSG first assembled at sea in October 2020 as part of a rehearsal for its first operational deployment in 2021. ==Command, control and organisation== The titular head of the Royal Navy is the Lord High Admiral, a position which was held by the Duke of Edinburgh from 2011 until his death in 2021 and since then remains vacant.
The position had been held by Queen Elizabeth II from 1964 to 2011; the Sovereign is the Commander-in-chief of the British Armed Forces.
This has caused considerable debate about the size of the Royal Navy, with a 2013 report finding that the current RN was already too small, and that Britain would have to depend on her allies if her territories were attacked.
Small numbers of personnel are based in Diego Garcia (Naval Party 1002), Miami (NP 1011 – AUTEC), Singapore (NP 1022), Dubai (NP 1023) and elsewhere. On 6 December 2014, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced it would expand the UK's naval facilities in Bahrain to support larger Royal Navy ships deployed to the Persian Gulf.
The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 reduced the procurement of Type 26 to eight with five Type 31e frigates to be procured. ====Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMV)==== There are two classes of MCMVs in the Royal Navy: seven s and six s.
Operation Atalanta, the European Union's anti-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean, is permanently commanded by a senior Royal Navy or Royal Marines officer at Northwood Headquarters and the navy contributes ships to the operation. From 2015, the Royal Navy also re-formed its UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) after it was disbanded in 2011 due to the retirement of HMS Ark Royal and Harrier GR9s.
Queen Elizabeth began sea trials in June 2017, was commissioned later that year, and entered service in 2020, while the second, , began sea trials on 22 September 2019, was commissioned in December 2019 and is due to enter service in 2023.
The first, , commenced flight trials in 2018.
If required, the Sandown and Hunt-class vessels can take on the role of offshore patrol vessels. ====Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV)==== Five Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessels entered service between 2018 and 2021.
As of 2018, the newly commissioned also undertakes survey duties at sea. ====Royal Fleet Auxiliary==== The Navy's large fleet units are supported by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary which possesses three amphibious transport docks within its operational craft.
As at March 2019, the total displacement of the Royal Navy was approximately 407,000 tonnes (641,200 tonnes including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Royal Marines). The Royal Navy is part of Her Majesty's Naval Service, which also includes the Royal Marines.
Women now serve in all sections of the Royal Navy including the Royal Marines. In August 2019, the Ministry of Defence published figures showing that the Royal Navy and Royal Marines had 29,090 full-time trained personnel compared with a target of 30,600. In December 2019 the First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin outlined a proposal to reduce the number of Rear-Admirals at Navy Command by five.
Queen Elizabeth began sea trials in June 2017, was commissioned later that year, and entered service in 2020, while the second, , began sea trials on 22 September 2019, was commissioned in December 2019 and is due to enter service in 2023.
These have Merlin-capable flight decks. In December 2019, the modified ‘Batch 1’ River-class vessel, , was decommissioned, with the 'Batch 2' taking over duties as the Falkland Islands patrol ship. ====Ocean survey ships==== is a dedicated Antarctic patrol ship that fulfils the nation's mandate to provide support to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
Queen Elizabeth began sea trials in June 2017, was commissioned later that year, and entered service in 2020, while the second, , began sea trials on 22 September 2019, was commissioned in December 2019 and is due to enter service in 2023.
By 2020, Faslane will become the home to all Royal Navy submarines, and thus the RN Submarine Service.
The UKCSG first assembled at sea in October 2020 as part of a rehearsal for its first operational deployment in 2021. ==Command, control and organisation== The titular head of the Royal Navy is the Lord High Admiral, a position which was held by the Duke of Edinburgh from 2011 until his death in 2021 and since then remains vacant.
As of January 2021, there are 79 operational commissioned ships (including submarines as well as one historic ship, ) in the Royal Navy, plus 13 ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA); there are also five Merchant Navy ships available to the RFA under a private finance initiative.
If required, the Sandown and Hunt-class vessels can take on the role of offshore patrol vessels. ====Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV)==== Five Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessels entered service between 2018 and 2021.
The UKCSG first assembled at sea in October 2020 as part of a rehearsal for its first operational deployment in 2021. ==Command, control and organisation== The titular head of the Royal Navy is the Lord High Admiral, a position which was held by the Duke of Edinburgh from 2011 until his death in 2021 and since then remains vacant.
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